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P H O C E E D rx G S 



Or 



CONYEMION 



SOLDIERS OF TJU: WAR OF 




HELD .\T CORIMillAX HALL, SVRACUSE. 



ToorTiiF.n 



ADDRESSES DELHERED BY 



GEX. JAMK- 



VV V ' vn -^i, ,\- 



HABV^-^' BALDWIN'. 



TVSr'PPOHT '^^'TT^r*"'. 






• • « -^^^K ^ • • I 



SYRACLShl.N. ^. 

i va.i iifll'U^ L:vA>' AMI NATIONAL STAR OTFlclL 

I >54. 



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i 



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M*aivaw«aM 



i PROCEEDINGS | 

i 

I OF THE j 

i" CONVENTION I 



OF THE 



SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 




HELD AT CORINTHIAN HALL, SYRACUSE, 

JUNE 20th, AND 21st, 1854. 

TOGETHER WITH 

I ADDRESSES DELIVERED BY 

GEN. JAMES W. NYE, AND HON. HARVEY BALDWIN, 
INSUPI^ORT OF THEIR CT.AINXS. 



SYRACUSE, i\. Y. 

EDWARD HOOGLAXD, PRINTER: 
DAILY REPUBLICAN AND NATIONAL STAR OFFICS, 

1854. 



I 



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A 



RECEPTION OF THE 



VETERANS OF THE WAR OF 1812, 



AT SYRACUSE, JUNE 20, 1854 



Morning Gun at Sunrise. — Reveille. — Thirteen Guns at lOi A. M. 




1. 

2. 
3. 
4. 



The Soldiers of the War of 1812— '15, to 
the number of nearly 1100 men having previ- 
ously reported tliemselves at the Head Quarters 
of Major (leueralEuAS W. Henson, at tte Globe 
Hotel, pursuant to the order of the day, assem- 
bled at the City Hall a 9 1-2 A. M., and as soon 
thereafter as practicable, those who were not 
too aged and infirm to participate in the march 
were i'ormed into line on Montgomery street, 
rit^ht resting on Genesee street, in the following 
order : 

Major Gen. E. W. Benson and Staff. 
Visiting Officers of the War of 1812. 
Yeteran Troops. 

Delegation of Indians who served in the war. 

Meanwhile, the olst Regiment, Lieut. Col. R. 

M. RicTiARDsoN, by request commanding together 

I with detachments from Regiments stationed 

I at Ulica and Auburn, having formed in line 

i near Fayette Park, the Veteran Column, passed 

ithe receiving troops, at 'Present Arms' and hal- 
ted on the north side of the park. 
j Lieut. Col. RinuRDso.v's whole force then 

• moved along in front of the Old Soldiersf who 
j returned the "I'resent Arms" with the usual 
I recognition. 

I The ProceEsion was then formed, the Veteran 
j Corps breaking in sections eight deep, and with 
j auxiliaries, moving to the right in the follow- 
j ing order: 

• Lieut Col. R. M. RiaunDsoN and Staff. 

1Sa:sisel'6 Band. 
Citizen's Corps, Capt, Watxatii, : : 
Seymour Artillery, Capt. Myebs, : : 
LaFayette Guard?, Capt. Listman : 
J^^ati nal Guards, Capt. Downs, : : : 
Shield's Guards, Capt. Skally, : : : 
Washington Artillery, Capt. Roessel, 



S3'racu8e. 

Ulica. 

Syracuse. 

Auburn. 
Syracuse. 



Martial Musio. 

Veterans of 1812, under command of 

Major Gen. Benson, 
Maj. Gen. Brown and | Asjisting by 

Co!. Adams, of his staff. j" request. 
Gen. C. C. Riciiardson and Staff, by invitation, 
aiding in the escort. 

Indian allies of 1812, of thesix Nations, Onon- 
dagas, Scnecaa, Oneidas, Mohawk=, Tuscororas, 
and Dolawares, and widows of deceased war- 
riors, (among the latter one oged 116 year.^) 

The Clergy, Maj-or and Co'mmoa Council of 
Syracuse, County and City oflicers, invited 
guests, citizens, <fec. 

The whole force then moved along and 
through Grape, Genesee, Onondaga and Salina 
streets, to Cowntul^n Hall, where the Old Sol- 
diers proceeded to transact th<j^ business of their 
Convention, 

Tlie Hall presented a magnificent appearancj 
and was densely crowded. Some cf the old vet- 
erans had upon their persons mementoes of 
their old campaigns, such as epaulets, cartridge 
boxes, swords, sashes, &c. 

LTpon the platform were some 25 or 30 gray- 
headed men, officers of the svar of 1*^12, officers 
of the several corjis forming the escort, and a 
l3r,;e number of invited guests, inclu 'iug wid- 
ows of deceased veterans. 



Head Quartern, Syracuse House, I 
No. 18, June 21, 1854. ) 

Tlie ucderf^igned having inspected the col- 
umn and witnessed the parade of Lieut. Col. H. 
M. RiciiARDaON's comiuand, escorting the Sol- 
diers of the Wsr of 1812, on the 20th iust., deems 
it proper to express to the officers and men his 
gratifiuation at their fine appearance, and entire 



•4 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



I 






approval of their soldierly bearing and brother- 
ly courtesy on that occasion. 

J. B. BROWN. Insp. 24th 
Brigade, N. Y. S. M. 

(,*, It U doe l^ '.ho Escort (o gl' e the fol'owin)? pro- 
cp«-.|i!iep of the Preliminary Mectiog. when the Military 
gdiUiiii' n of Sjracuse aLd vicinit;- gallantly volunteered 
ihtir a--;.-tauce, and olsoti express the Ihankc oftheoffi. 
cerg of the (."onvpntion in behalf fif their Cooipanions-in- 
Arm», U> Genf-ral C. C. KicuABn^os, and ht« etalT, and to 
the o' cerg and men composicg the command of Lieut. 
Col. 1IICHA.BDS0N, for their klndnoas, attention and cour- 
tesy.) 

MILITARY MEETII^G. 

At a meeting of the Staff officers of the 24th 
Brigmli^ and the Line and Staff officers of the 
51st Regiment, held at the office No. 4, ilalcolm 
Block, Friday, ilay 2Cth, at 7 o'clock P. M., on 
motion, Maj. J* B. Brown was called to the 
Chair, and Capt J. G. Birklow appointed Sec- 
retary. 

On taking the Cliair, Maj. Beown briefly 
stated the object of the meeting to be for the 
purj>ose of adopting a plan for co-operating 
with the soldiers of 1812 in their contemplated 
Convention to be held in this cit}- on the 20th 
of June next. He had had an interview with 
Gen. Bf-nson on the subject, who had informed 
him that from 200 tu SCO of the veterans of 
1812 might be expected to be here on that oc- 
casion, and he thought it entirely proper that 
the military of Syracuse should receive them 
in a manner worthy cf the old defenders of the 
Republic. In paying honors to them, we should 
be winning fresh laurtls fur out selves. 

On motion, it was 

Re-'olved, That this meeting hereby recom- 
mend to the commandants of the 24th Brigade 
and of the 5l8t and 52nd Regiments to appear 
with their commands on the 20lh of June, on 
parade in this oity to receive the soldiers of 
1812. 

On motion, it was 

Resolved, That Gen. Rich.^epson, Maj. Dillate, 
and Captains Paige, Wklls, Hawley, Bigelow 
and IIovEY be appointed a committee te solicit 
subscriptions to defray the expenses of the re- 
ception. 

On motion, it was 

JxrxolvfJ, That Col. Richaudson, Maj. Brown 
and Lieut. nEERMAX.', be appointed a committee 
to devise and execute measures for carrying out 
the objects of this meeting and the approaching 
Convention. 

On motion, the meeting adjourned. 



1 need scarcely add that any petition to Con- 
gress, the meeting may agree upon, shall re;eive 
all the influence, however small, it may be in 
my power to exert in its behalf. 

I remain, dear sir, 
Truly yours, 

WINFIEIJ) SCOTT, 
M&j. Gen. E. W. Beksox, ) 
Col. H. Olds, V 

Aid-de-camp.'itc.ic. ) 

IIoVSE OF ReI'RE^ENTATIVES ) 

Washington, May lOlb, 18o4. f 
DtAR Sir: 

I am sorry that I cannot be with you, at 
S3'racu9e, on the 20lh June. But I shall be 
with you here; and here is where you need 
friends. And, at your next Legislative and 
Congressional election, you must tnke particular 
pains to see that none but your friends are sent 
here. 

Let the Soldiers of the War of 1812 speak and 
act as a unit at the polls in favor of a pension, 
in favor of their just rights, and a bill with pro- 
visions similar to tlie one introduced by myself^ 
will soon be the law of the land. 

You ought, gentlemen, to get resolutions not 
only through j-our Legiislamre, but also through 
all your political conventions, in favor of your 
measure. Indeed, allow no man, under any 
circumstances, to ♦ceive the suffrages of the 
soldiers, who is not in favor of placing thenc 
upon the pension roll Indeed, let ever}- soldier 
be true to himself at tiie polls, and acother 
Congress will not adjourn before he will find 
himself upon the P'^nsion RolL 

1 have the honor to be, 

Your Ob't Serv't. 
JOHN WEXTWORTH. 
Maj. Ger. E. W. Benson, 
Fabiua. 



>EN50N, ) 

N. Y. y 



LETTERS. 

New York, May 12, 1854. 
Dear Snu 

I am sorry that pressing engai;ementa will 
deprive nic of the plensure of meeting my brotli- 
ers-in-arms, of the War of 1812-15, who are 
expected to assemble at Syracuse, on the 20th 
of the next month; but my beat wishes and 
kindest regards will be witli yoi:. 



House of Rptresentatives, | 
Washington, May 15, 1854. ) 
Dear Sir: 

1 have received your circular inviting me to 
meet with the veterans of the War of 1812 at 
Syracuse on the 20th of June. Be pleased to 
say to them that nothing would give me greater 
pleasure than to be with them on that occasion: 
but, a stern sense of duty compels me to be here 
at mj* post. 

This is all I need say to the surviving vet- 
erats of that war, for, where duty called, there 
were they always found. 

I only ask that our endeavors may be in the 
end as successful as were thc/rs. 

1 have presented to Congress during this ses- 
sion a Inrge number of petitions from the citi- 
zens of Onondaga, asking C ngressto pnes a law 
to reward those who sacrificed their time and 
health in that war. I hope and trust they will 
not be disappointed. 

I am, dear sir. 

Your Ob't Serv't, 

D.T. JO>TS. 

C/ol. H. Olds, Syracuse, N. Y. 



I 



i 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAK OF 1812. 



THE CONVENTION. 

CoRiNTTUAN Hall, June 20, 1854. 

At a quarter before two o'clock, Maj. Gen 
Benso.v callf^d the Convent'on to order. 

Pi aver by ReA\ Wm. Buss Asolet, Chaplain 
5Ist Kfgiiuent. 

On inotiuu Cap^. Harvey Bvld-win. was cho- 
sen i'resident, and the following gentlemen 

Vice Presidents : 

Maj. Gen, E. "W, Bevsox, Onondaga co, 

Gen, HENTiy Stoiuis, Westcliester co, 

Gen JoH> .'>, Van Kensselaeu, Alban\- co, 
Gen Abner Wood'^vortij, Yates co, 



I 



{ 



Gt-n T. Matcuin 
Col, H, Olds, 
Col John Stevens, 
Col JosiAH Harvkt, 
Col Peteu Bankieb, 
Col J. CUILDS, 
Col Sherman IIosmer, 
Col Wm. Warren, 
Hon. Joshua Spencer, 



Montgomery co. 

Onondaga.co, 

Onondaga co, 

Erie co, 

Schenectady co, 

Monroe co, 

Oswego CO, 

Erie co, 

Oneida oo. 



Secretaries: 



Fd. Hooglaxd, 
m. summfrs, 

H, L. DiNMOEE, 

C. E. Smith, 
The President 



Syracuse Republican, 
Stand'ird. 
" Chronicle, 
" Journal. 
returned thanks to his follow 
soldiers for their partialitj^ towards himself, and 
in behalf of the citizens of Syracuse, extended 
to all a cordial welcome and affectionate greet- 
ing He also referred to the objects that had 
called the Convention together, viz: 

1. It is to further a hetter and more extended 
acquaintance with each other, and renf^w our 
old Eocial feeling?, so cordially extended when 
we were companions in arms. 

2. To make ourselve? better acquainted with 
each other's residence and with our various 
rights and interests, and collectively to aid and 
asssist those who, from various causes, are in 
need. 

3. That we may be better able to ascertain 
the number of Soldiers now living — and Wid- 
ows and Orpbims of those that are dead, and to 
facilitate all claims they may have on the Gov- 
ernment 

4. To appeal to the National Legislators of 
these United States, for such testimonials ot 
Gratitude as would be worthy of the richest, 
most prosperous, enlightened and free Nation 
on Earth towards these who had freely given 
all they had, and all they were, to defend her 
in her eeason of weakness and peril. 

The President then introduced. 
Gen. J/MKs W. Nte. — Orator of the Day. " 
The President then invited aged men and the 
Chief of the Onondaga?, to stats on the plat- 
form. 

The Chief made his appearance, dressed in 
the full "War custume of his Tribe, and was 
greeted with loud applanse, and. 

Music, " Hail to the C'Jiief," by Samsel's Band. 



Gen- Nye then delivered the following 
ORATION. 



\ 



\ 



i 



\ ETEKANS OF 181'2» SoLDlERS WHO FORMU^ 

THEIR Escort, and Citizens all: — 

In accepting yonr invitation to ad- 
dress you, I informed the Committee 
who tendered it, that I should draw 
largely upon your kind indulgence 
and tax to the utmost your jiowers 
of forbearance, for the manner in 
which it would be done. 

I come now to demand the sacrifice 
I infoi'med them I should expect. 

The character of the gathering, its 
objects, its aims, all seemed to me to 
require that some one who shared in 
the perils of that bloody conflict, or 
one whose years reached back to that 
period, to make it effective and to ac- 
complish the. object for which it is in- 
tended, should have made your ad- 
dress. But circumstances have decreed 
differentlv, and it is as it is. 

I have for a long time thought that 
there should be some decisive steps ta- 
ken, some well digested plan adopted, 
some concert of action among the sur- 
vivors of the "War of 1812, to demand 
and insure success in the great under- 
taking of procuring and obtaining jus- 
tice from what should be a grateful 
Government, for the services you and 
your comrades rendered in that memo- 
rable struggle for the rights of man. 

The Eevolution was completed, the 
brilliant achievments of that eventful 
struggle were fresh in the minds of 
our Nation, we were yet revelling in 
the bud of its first fruits, the notes of 
thanksgiving had not died away upon 
the lips of a happy people for their 
great deliverance, the thraldom of op- 
pression was broken, the bird of lib- 
erty was just clothed in her beautiful 
plumage, the arms with which it was 
won were hung up as monuments, 
the blood-stained blade was beginning 
to rust in its scabbard, some of the 
actors who survived that contest so 
pregnant with future events were yet 



in their 



vigor, 



their wounds received 



6 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812, 



i 



r- I 



were now cicatriced, the last tear forjbatants — ^vrith their sons. The grew 
their fallen comrades had been shed, ing Commerce of the infant Republic 
the bloody field had given place to ! attracted her cmy. The stately tread 
green verdure, the whitened bones ofj of Yankee enterprise had aroused her 



f 

■ 

i theircompanionshad commingled with jealousy, and sh~e determined to stay 
I their native dust, the traces of war it in its rivalry for the mastery of the 
I were fast disappearing, the exhaustion 
consequent upon it had spent itself, 

were aorain culti- 



the neglected fields 
vated, the arm that had swung the sa- 
bre in battle was now swinging the 
axe, and dark forests were falling be- 
fore it's power, the rich earth was 
ariving forth its first cultivated fruit? 



ocean. 

That nation, that knew then no max- 
im but right, and that respected indi- 
\adual as well as collective rights, that 
adopted the principle " inasmuch as ye 
have done it unto one of the least of 
thcso my brethren, ye have done 
it unto me, " was not deaf to the 



the lon.fr neglected workshop was | cry for succor that wa£ heard upon the j 

hea^^.ng deep, above the howling of | 
the storm fi'orn its ocean prison. No. j 
it was quick to catch its sound, and I 
most manfully it responded to it. j 

Regardless of the issue (as men and j 
nations should always be when batt- ■ 
ling for the right,) they entered the j 
contest. An appeal was again made j 
to arms. The cry was sent forth. It 
climbed every liiU and echoed through 



I again tenanted, cities had spi-ung up, 

j commerce was spreading its sails, 

: our Ships were penetrating every sea, 

I our flag and ensign were fluttering in 

I every breeze. — All seemed to bespeak 
prosperity and happiness ! 

But hark I the wail of oppression 
is heard. That nation stung to its in- 
most soul by the loss of its colonies 
and by the defeat of its armies which 
they vainly boasted were invincible, ! every valley. The response was elec 



trical. Bristling bayonets were seen 
and the roar of cannon heard in every j 
State of the Union. The cry was, to j 
tl)e rescue of that priceless gift, that | 
rich legacy our fathers had won. The j 
old heroes again buckled on their ar- | 
Iheir old eyes glistened again 



mor. 



I 



J 



commenced anew a scries of aggres- 
sions upon individual rights, which was 
nothing more nor less than piracy. 

She asserted the right to stop Amer- 
ican Ships in their course, and with a 
band of armed marines, ma':e Search 
for what she called her citizens, and 

if any were found not having at an opportunity of once more facing 
American passports, no matter, of what their deadly foe. The forms of their ^ 
nation, she claimed them as her sub- j fallen comi-ades in the war of the Rev- j 
.jects. This system of piracy was per- 1 olution, were all marshalled in a Tfan- I 
sisted in. The Appeals made for re- "' "^ "' ' 

dress were treated with contumelv, 
and in bold and defiant tones she as- 
serted the right so to do. 

Thus the same power, whose Lion in 
the Revolution had shaken bis fright- 
ful mane in the faces of the impover- 
ished Colonies and whose frightful 
roar in the onset, struck terror to the 
licra-ts of our fathers, but who was 
-lain by the beak of the American Ea- 
j;i>?, thought best to try again and re- 
deem lier lost reputation in another 
stru<i'j;lc — if not with the sara-"; com- 



i 



oramic view to their vision. Their 
patriotism, if it ever waned or grew 
cold, was enldndled again. Their in- 
tluence was seen and felt. Such, Vet- I 
erans, was the condition of affairs | 
when you buckled on your armor for j 
the field. When you shook the flire- j 
well hand of aged parents, wife and j 
children, to take the chances of event- " 
ful war, too many, alas I never more 
to receive the warm welcome of home 
but the cold and cheerless welcome of 
the grave. _ 1 

Our fathers fought to ohtain, you j 



■MmvBHwaa ■«■ wum m 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



to retain the principles of Republican 
Liberty. Each alike entitled to the 
gratitude of a free and generous peo- 
ple. The Government was very slow 
in doling out a scanty reward to the 
Soldiers of the Revolution, and too 
many of that glorious band wended 
their way with their scarred and en- 
feebled frames to the grave of poverty. 
Their dying groans failed to attract 
the attention of Government. 

If complaint can be justly made of 
the treatment of the - Soldiers of the 
Revolution, with much more justice 
can you and your comrades complain. 
Forty years have now passed away 
since tlie glad tidings of peace were 
heralded through the land. The Sol- 
dier's ear was greeted with the sound 
that his country no longer needed his 
services in that capacity. He was 
laarslialled into his country's service 
full of hfe and youthful vigor. Too 
many of them were dismissed from that 
service, with diseased and broken con- 
stitutions, with scai'cely strength re- 
maining to draw their sickly persons 
back to their homes to die. They left 
a home of plenty, they fmd a home of 
poverty. They left a home of happi- 
ness, they iind a home of sorrow. — 
The dilapidated buildings and the neg- 
lected fields bid them a sorrowing wel- 
come. Loved ones they left with the 
bloom of health on their cheeks, are 
now to be seen no more forever. The 
inspiration incident to the hope of 
again meeting those fond ones left be- 
hind, has vanished with the tidings of 
their destruction. The poor enfeebled 
victim lives only to hear what chills 
his heart, and he too yields to the fell 
destroyer. He leaves, however, de- 
pendent and defenceless ones behind 
him, and Oh! how he is tortured in 
his last moments, with the reflection, 
that he leaves thera penniless, and or- 
phans indeed. 

But, methinks I see his dying eye 
glisten -with joy, as the thought flits 
through his mind, that his Country, 



for which he has laid do^vn his life, 
will see that his children do not want. 
Sleep on, thou scar- worn veteran, in 
that happy delusion — It comforted 
thee in death, and made thy dying 
moments sweet. 

This is but a feeble picture of those _ 
who were permitted to return. But a | 
sadder picture is in reserve. Go, j 
comit the numberless GTaves, on the \ 
different fields of battle. Consider for 
a moment, that each mound is the rest- 
ing place of one or more of oar coun- j 
trymen, who has laid down to sleep j 
bis last sleej:), with no stone or other j 
monument to mark his individual i 
grave. Fond friends are robbed of [ 
the melancholy satisfaction of drop- | 
ping a tear over his remains. Ihe : 
habiliments of the poor clad soldier • 
constituted his apparel for the grave. | 
The wounds with which he fell, had : 
no kind hand to bind. The life-cur- j 
rent as it flowed had no friendly hand | 
to staunch. The death-drops that j 
gathered on his brow, there remained, • 

I sincerely hope that this united ap- I 
peal to Congress for aid, will have the • 
desired effect. That it has not been I 
granted before, is to be greatly regTet- \ 
ted. Here and there to a limited ex- j 
tent it has been done, but to the great s 
mass, until quite recently, nothing j 
available has been rendered. Laws • 
were passed in 1814, amended in 1818 | 
in this State, for the temporary relief • 
of its local Soldiers in that war, but | 
failed for want of the necessary appro- j 
priation to carry out their intent. — | 
How much more preferable it would I 
have been, if the hearts of the depart- j 
ed heroes of that memorable struggle i 
could have been made to overflow ; 
with gratitude by a manly recognition j 
of the ser\dces rendered, by the Gov- { 
crnment they so patriotically served, j 
What a happy thing it would have j 
been, if fatherless families had been j 
provided for, by the Government who | 
made them so. The Government de- : 
manded the sacrifice, it was graatcd. | 



8 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE "WAR OF 1812. 



admiring 



It asked for the Soldier's blood, it was j attract the attention of an 
freely given. It asked for his limbs , people. 

and iic gave thena. For what ? For | Qur Country, unlike any other, de- 
his Country and her honor. It asked ^^^^ ,„ ^ Volunteer force for its de- 
for a sacnhce of his business mter^t f,^,^ ^^^^ insurrection and invasion.- 

I it was yielded, it asked of him that Orirr ^v.^„^i, .p „ .^o a- • l 

I 1 1 •<■ 1 , xi • 1 -1 ui ^^^^y enough ot a standino^ army exists 

! he should exchano;e the indescribable ! ^„ / „ „t „ i i- v • ^ 

li . X- T ^- IT r xi ' ^0 lorm a nucleus, around which is to 

{happiness oi domestic life, lor the' „.i -v. j \ •,,. , , 
dan-ers of the Cimn and the field — ! ^^^^^r the ready and willing volunteers, 
oan^ers oi tne Camp ana- tiie new. , ^j^^ . ^ ^ ^ fighting of the 

J He made the exchancre. It told him n ^ -kt l \ *i? ° 

i to sever all the domestic ties, he cutlp""^^^'' , ^f ,t'''^'' i ^^ T.^^^ 
I them asunder at its biddincr. It told ! ^/'^^^ '' l^f^ /^^^" ^^S^lars but that 
i him to take the last look of his chil- ' ^^'^^ constitute the numerical force. It 



I 



is a question well worthy of considera- 
tion by our Country, how is this force 
to be made the most available ? How 
can she command at all times the ener- 
gies of the volunteer force of our . 
Country ? Situated as we are with our | 
immeasurable Sea-board on two Oceans I 
and vast Lakes and mighty Rivers that j 
divide us from other Governments^ j 
our vast Commercial intercourse, our i 
rapid growth, all seem to admonish us ■ 
that this arm of our national strength 
should always, with alacrity, observe the 
call the Country may make. The true 
answer to this inquiry is, the Govern- 
ment must be as careful of tJtei7- inter- 
ests, as the Citizens are of the Govern- 
ment. The obligation must be mutual, j 
—she should remember you in her ■ If the citizen in the hour of peril ruslies i 
strength and glory. I to his country's standard and sup[ ort, J 

That struggle defended our honor at that country must remember the service | 
home, and gave us a lustrous name ' rendered, and be as generous of her i 
abroad. It developed the prowess of i rewards as the Citizen in the offering he | 
American arms as a whole and furnished , makes. Men, who serve their Country 

well, must be remunerated or provided 
for. Ours is the only Country thnt does 



I divn, and away to the tented field. — 
j He looked, offered one prayer for their 
I safety, and turned his back on his 
j home forever. 

i ■ Such sacrifices demand consideration 
j and remuneration. By no means let , 
I the intimation be made that your ser- j 
i vices were performed for pat/. You I 
I found then, and find now^, great con- ' 
j solation in the reflection that you an- 
I swered fully the demand youi- Conn- [ 
' try made. You made the sacrifice.-^ ■ 
and now miUions enjoy the fruit of 
I your labor and benefit of your toils. 
But that does not relieve the Gov- 
ernment of the obligation it always 
owes its defenders. You, Veterans, 
served your Country in her weakness, 



i 

I 

j some of the most striking instances of 
I individual bravery, the world ever saw. 

I A truly brilliant catalogue of names was ! not provide well for its Soldiers. Even 
j added to the world's list of heroes. — i the semi-barbarous nations tnake ample 
} Many who served in the first struggle [ provision for their Soldiers and their 
j for independence, capped the climax of, families. I hope it will not be much 
; their glory in the war of 1812. That . longer said that this Country is less just j 
j war seemed to be pregnant with heroes \ or less grateful than others. A Repub- j 
until then unknown to fame. The He like ours, should be the most ready I 
bloodiest fields gave birth to them ; not ! to bo generous. If we were poor when } 
heroes for a day, but born for immortal- the services you rendered were demand- j 
ity. Names arose on the firmament then ed, now that we have grown rich, we 
that will continue to shine till brilliant i should pay with interest. A vast do- 
achievements and daring deeds cease to ; main unappropriated or yet unbroken is 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



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ours. This is the fruit of the system 
you helped establish. Who, but the 
Soldier and his family should eat the 
bread from the Soil his own blood has 
enriched ? IIow much more in the 
spirit of justice would that legislation be 
that would give each Soldier of the war 
of 1812, and each survivor of their 
families sufficient to insure, with indus 
try, an exemption from want ? It is a 
sad thing to see the old war worn Vet- 
eran an inmate of the Alms House, to 
hear him recounting to those around 
him, in truthful language, his exploits 
performed for his Country, his scarred 
visage lighting up as he recounts his 
victories, to be made more sad by the 
reflection that he is forgotten by the 
Country he served. Cruel forgetful- 
ness ! Yet- how many of your comrades 
have been and now are left to this cold- 
est of charity ! Even ia this County, 
almost in hearing of my voice, can in- 
stances of this kind be found. It does 
not seem possible that the attention of 
our Government has been sufficiently 
aroused to this point, that its ears have 
been open to the cry of actual misery, 
that comes un from our Alms Houses 

A. 

and the abodes of the wretched and the 
poor, that it has been conscious of 
the real sufferings of our Country's de- 
fenders. If it had, the angry discuss- 
ions in the Halls of Congress would 
have ceased, and the harshness and ac- 
rimony there exhibited would have been 
awed into submission by the drafts on 
their humanity. Therefore this move- 
ment seems to be in exact accordance 
with the necessities of the times, and 
cannot fail to produce the desired re- 
sult. 

Deaf indeed must that Representa- 
tive be who cannot hear the united pray- 
er from this Convention, and kindred 
ones in other States. Blind indeed 
must he be, who cannot see with what a 
trembling hand some of the signatures 
to your petition are made. Hard must 
be the heart that is not moved by these 



sounds and these sights. The ear that 
will not hear, the eye that will not see, 
the heart that will not melt is unfit to 
represent a free, noble and generous 
people. 

The benefits of that war have ncfyet 
been fully realized, but are beginning to 
be seen. It was caused by impressment, 
and although in the Treaty of Peace, 
no stipulation was embodied providing 
against it, yet forty years have rolled 
away, and not a single repetition of the 
offence has been attempted. The na- 
tion with whom we struggled learned in 
the bitter school of experience that 
such infringements upon our rights 
would at all times, and under all circum- 
stances be rebuked and punished. It 
taught the world whether on sea or land 
American arms were invincible. The 
bravery displayed in that war command- 
ed the respect and admiration of the 
world. . It developed our resources to 
ourselves, and gave us advantages in 
our Treaty, that we could have obtained 
in no other way. It taught monarchies 
the salutary lesson, that though, by their 
intrigues, they may arouse the savage 
as a foe, whose cruelties they cannot 
control, that though they may boast of 
their achievements in other lands, over 
a soldiery not free but hirelings, when 
they strike a blow against a nation that 
is free, against a soldiery that are Sov- 
ereigns, that in that conflict they must 
fall, that the banner on which is in- 
scribed the magic word of Freedom, 
will be found waving when the conflict 
is over. It taught England that the 
Country whose freedom and free insti- 
tutions were born in blood, would not 
shrink from baptising them in the same 
element. 

It seems to me that notwithstanding 
the sectional jealousies of the times, 
your petition, when presented to Con- 
gress, must command attention. The 
cry of Sectionalism cannot be raised. 
Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, the 
Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Geor- 



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10 



CONVEXTION OF THE SOLDIEKS OF THE WAE OF 1812. 



gia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana 
shared largely in the glory achieved 
jointly with the States of New England, 
New York and the Northern States and 
Territories. So universal was the ef- 
fort; that a lisp of Sectionalism would 
be hushed into silence. The blond of 
all sections flowed too freely to admit of 
any jealousies. 

Veterans, make your petition, pre* 
sent it to the Representatives of a peo- 
ple who share so largely in the benefits 
of your achievements. Let petitions be 
presented from whatever place your 
comrades may be found. Let the cry 
come up from not only the survivors but 
the widows and children of your com- 
rades. Their husbands and fathers left 
their services thus performed as a legacy 
they are richly entitled to receive. — 
This legacy was written in blood, and 
the attesting witnesses are the scars with 
which they fell covered. Sacred instru- 
ment and sacredly attested ! 

Veterans, appoint a committee to pre- 
sent your petitions. Let them appear 
before the committee that will have this 
question in charge and tell the simple 
storv of the wrongs yourselves and com- 
rades have endured. Tell them, when 
you entered the service of your country 
your locks now whitened by age and 
hardship were as black and shining as 
the raven's plumage. Tell them that 
on your cheek then sat the bloom of 
youth where now wrinkled age holds do- 
minion. Tell them that the eye now 
dim, then sparkled with brightness. — 
Tell them that in the darkest hour of 
battle you thought of your country and 
her glory. Tell thera that you turned a 
deaf car to the dying groan of your 
brother soldier, that you shut your eyes 
to his gaping wounds, in the din of bat- 
tle, that you listened only to the word of 
command cf your superiors and kept 
your eye only on the enemy till the 
bloody strife ceased. Toll them you 
have walked among the stiffened corses 

your dead comrades at night when the 



pale and timid moon sought to hide her 
pure face as though she would not wit- 
ness Such scenes of woe, to find some 
one still lingering there on the field of 
the dead to whom you could administer 
relief or consolation. Tell them of the 
countless tears you have seen flow down 
the cheeks of aged mothers as you have 
borne intelligence to the home of the 
slain. Tell them how the old father's 
tears traced the scarred furrows of his 
revolutionary cheek. Tell them of 
the wild and indescribable shrieks, wiih 
which your ear has been greeted, of the 
maniac maid. Tell them as you have 
borne some little memento to the heart- 
stricken friend from the hand chilling 
with death on the battle field, that you 
have seen a grief so deep that the tear 
refused to start for the relief of the 
heart-stricken mourner. Tell them of 
the desolation you have seen wrought 
in social and domestic circles. Tell 
them, how many the sacrifices of that 
war clothed in sable garments. 

If these things move them not, point 
to the glorious victory achieved. Ask 
them to go with you to Queenston's 
bloody heights and view the awful preci- 
pice down which our Countrymen were 
driven, leaping in their death stJ-uggles 
from rock to rock till their bruised, 
wounded and mutilated forms found a 
grave in the angry waters of Niagara. — 
So frightful was the spectacle that the 
leaping waters as they broke over those 
who plunged into their depths seemed to 
break in tear-drops over them. Ask 
them to go with you to the bloody Saranac 
and remember that, that river ran red 
with soldier's blood. Tell them its rap- 
id current was stayed irf its course by 
numberless dead and dying. Ask them 
to remember the bloody slaughter at 
Frenchtown on the river Raisin where 
after the surrender of our forces the 
ruthless savage with all his pent up 
cruelty was turned loose upon the pris- 
oners who were killed, scalped and 
burned with all the tortures, savage, 



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CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



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ferocity could invent. This says the 
historian clothed Kentucky and Ohio 



in mournuig. 



Ask them to go with you to that Sold 
where the brave Pike offered up his life 
in the attack on York, where from that 
memorable explosion almost our entire 
army was annihilated. Refer them to 
Sacketts Harbor and Fort George. — 
Ask them to accompany you to the sav- 
age masacre of Fort Mimms, to look 
over the fields Talledegam, Enckfaw and 
Tohoheka. Tell them the thursty sands 
of the South wore surfeited with blood 
and blood too of our countrymen. — 

Come back with them to Chippewa 
and Bridgewater where the American 
forces for the first time crossed the bay- 
onet and beheld the bloody charge. — 
See the blood of our Soldiers coursing 
its way in rivulets upon the fields. Be- 
hold every officer engaged, slain or 
wounded. See the bloody obstinacy, 
the cool bravery, the self-sacrifice there 
made, and ask them if su(;h deeds and 
services shall go unrewarded. 

But if all this will not do, take them 
to the closing conflict in the drama. — 
Go with them to New Orleans and point 
them to a proud City saved, to the spot 
^ here lies interred the pride of the Brit- 
ish army — that selected army that came 
to make prize of the " beauty and booty" 
of that city. Tell them to look at the 
low breast work behind which stands the 
inimitable and intrepid Jackson, the 
brave Morgan and trusty Coffee. Tell 
them to look at the wounds of Scott, at 
the grave of the lamented Worth, v.ho 
passing through three wars, winning 
fresh laurels in all, fell a victim to disease, 
but who nobly fills a soldiers grave. — 
Tell them of a Wool, a Jessup, and a 
thousand other immortal names and they 
cannot resist the application. 

Implore them, by the sacred name 
and memory of Tompkins, by a lively 
recollection of his patriotism and his 
sacrifice both of fame and fortune on 
the altar of his country, by the recollec- 



tion of Perry and the bloody waters 
of Lake Erie — of McDonough and the 
crimson billows of Champlain, by the 
brilhant achievements of the noble Con- 
stitution and the many victories on the 
Ocean, when the Storm-King shrunk 
back to his cavern before the majesty 
of American arms, by tho immortal 
Lawrence and his faring deeds and by 
the memory of Porter, Decatur, Bain- 
bridge and a host of other shining names. 
If that should fail, show them the flag 
that was placed under the head of the 
dying Pike or this that lies before me 
that was wrapt around the dauntless but 
dying Mills. Point them to the blood 
stains now on its folds and if their 
hearts were adamant they would yield. 
Then and not till then will our country 
have done itself and you justice. 



*«* Duiing the delivery of the Oration, a variety of 
fiigs, swords, bayonets and Irapletnentfl of blooily fleht 
used during the war, were exhibited ; among them the 
following : — 

1. Sword of MaJ. Gen Peter B. Porter, uied by him at 
the Sortie at Fort Erie, when he was wounded, and also 
at Lundy's Lane. 

2. The flag spread over the body of the lamented 
Capt. Mills, who was shot while leaving Horse Island to 
gel to the Fort, during the baitle of Sacsett's Harbor,— 
now stained with his blood. 

i 3. Sword of Gen. Uenry W. Dobbin, of Ontario Co., 
used at Lundy's Lane. 
I 4. Plume of Gen. Ellis, of Onondaga. 

5. Sword of Gen. T. M. Wood, of Onondaga Co. 

6. Sword of Gen. J. N. M. Hurd, of Madison Co. 

7. Sword taken from a British Officer, by Ool. Dcnieon. 

8. Old musket and cartridge box, pre8;:'nted by Ononda- 
ga Indians, 

The Oration was heartily approved and re- 
sponded to from time to time by the audiance. 
and after 

Ifusic, -- - - by Samsel's Band. 

Benediction, - by Rev. Wm. Blisa Ashley. 

The Convention took a recess till 5 o'clock P. 
M. 



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June 20, 5 o'clock P. M. 

Tnr- Preside.\t called the Convention to order. 
On Motion the following members were ap- 
pointed a "Committee on Resolutions:" 
Albany, John S. Tan Rensselaer, 
Allegany, Elias Hull. 
Cattaraugu?, Freeman "Wilber, 
Cayuga, Gen. Jacob Young, 
Chautauque, Joseph MltcheP, 
Chenango, James Rider, 
Clinton, Col. P. B. Roberts, 
Columbia, Uol. William Poultney, 
Cortland, Jamee Cowan, 
Chemung, Thomas Maxwell, 
Dutchess, Nagis Baker, 



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12 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIEES OF TRh: WAR OF 1812. 



8 



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Delaware, Col. Hezetiah Elwood, 

Erie, Orrin Lockwood, 

E-'sex, Andrew Ilecox, 

Folton. W. F. Chase, 

Franklin, A. B. Parmalee, 

Genesee, Wm Sheldon, 

Greene, Gen. Henry Wynkoop, 

Herkimer, Cephas Johnson. 

Jefferson, Amasa Trowbridge, 

Kings, Abram Ver Plank, 

Livingston, Daniel H Biesel, 

Madison, Lorin Hutcb nsou, 

Munroe, Gideon Cobb, 

Montgomery, Pythagoras Whitmore, 

New York, Maj. i yckman, 

Niagara, Asahel Scoyille, 

Oneida, Elisha Pettibone, 

Onondaga, Maj. Gen. Eiias W. Benson, 

Ontario, James Bogart, 

Orange, George Burnet, 

Oswego, Sherman Hosmer, 

Otsego, Benjamin Carver, 

Queens. Robert B Sutton. 

Rensselaer, Capt Robert Christie, 

Rockland, Edward Suffern. 

St. Lawrence, "Warren Clark, 

Suffolk, John Satterlee, 

Saratoga, Henry Palmer, 

Schoharie, David Smith, 

Schenectady, Peter Banker, 

Seneca, Edward Dobbin, 

Steuben, John Bush, 

Tioga, Lewis Van "Wart, 

Tompkins, Conrad Youngs, 

Ulster, Col. Jacob H. DeWitt, 

Washington, Wm McCauley, 

Wayne, Thos E. Dorsey, 

Westchester, Gen. Henry Storms. 

Wyoming, Col. J. Hovey, 

Yates, AbnerWoodworth, 
On motion, Gen. Storm^i, Gen. Kte and Gen. 
Benson, were appointed a Committee, to pre- 
pare a memorial to be presented to Congress and 
to be signed individually, by the members of 
this Convention to-morrow morning. 

On motion, the Members of the Convention 
were requested to furnish their names to the 
Acting Secretary, (E. Hooglaxd,) as soon as 
possible, either in the Hall, or bj' calling at the 
Office of the Datly Republican, Star Bulldingg, 
and communicating the Names with the neces- 
sary information, viz: — 

"Soldier's name — Residence — Captain's name 
— Term of service.'' 

The same to be written on cards or slips of 
paper and handed in, together with the names 
of as many of their neighbors who served in the 
War of 1812, as possible. 

It was announced that the Committee on me- 
morial, wculd meet (or consultation at the Globe 
Hotel, at 8 P. M. 

The Convention then adjourned till 10 A. M., 
to-morrow morning. 



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I 



to order, 

Maj. Gen. Bknoon, as Chairman, reported the 
following Resolutions, which were read at his 
request, by j 

Maj, Rtckslan, of New York, and advocated \ 
by him in an effective address, alike able, pat- \ 
riotic and apiiropriate to the occasion. ! 

The Report was accepted, and the following j 
Resolutions unanimously adopted. | 

RESOLUTIONS. j 

Resolved. — That in view of the many acts : 
of oppression on the part of Great Britain and j 
particularly the search of American Vessels and | 
the impressment of American Seamen and ' 
which rendered the war of 1812 unavoidable. — | 
That in view of our own condition at the time j 
of its declaration, our Treasury empty, our com- j 
merce prostrated, our sea coast and nume- 
rous Harbors blockatled, without manufactories, 
without credit and without any of the essential 
element to constitute us an independant nation 
save that of a people who loved their country 
and who were resolved to maintain it. That 
in view of the alacrity with which our citizen 
Soldiers rushed to the defence of our country I 
after the war was declared and to the great j 
sacrifices made b}" them in its behalf, and in • 
currying it heroically and triumphantly through • 
to a successful and glorious termination. — j 

In view of the great resulting benefits of that | 
war, the condition and respect won for us by | 
not only the nation with whom we battled but - 
with all other nations of the Earth. In view 
of the miserable compensation then made to 
some of our citizen Soldiers and the total ne- 
glect by our government to make any compen- 
sation to others. In view of the vast extent of 
our public domain and the present flourishing 
condition of our public Treasury and country, 
and in view of the fact that the Soldiers of the 
war of 1812, as a classare poor, all of them aged 
and many of them decripit and infirm; that in 
view of these multiplied considerations, the 
country is bound by every sense of duty to dis- 
charge promptly those high and long delayed 
obligations to the Veteran Soldiers of 1812. 

Resolved. — ^That in view of the large amount j 
of public Lands owned by the United States and } 
the liberal policy pursued by the government | 









June 21, 10 A. M. 
TuK Presidknt having called the Convention 



in reference to granting them, and in view of 
the liberal grants made to the Soldiers of the 
Revolution, wlien the public domain was much 
less than it now is and in view of the grants 
made to Soldiers in the Mexican war, not 
less than 160 acres ought to be granted to the 
Soldiers of 1812 for any term of service however 
brief and tluit to this amount should be added 
an additional allowance for the great delay 
now nearly half a century, on the pi\rt of the 
government in discharging its obligations in 
this respect to the Soldiers of that war. 

Resolved. — That in view of the resulting 
benefits to the natir n at large, and in view of 
the dangers and hardships encountered by the 
Soldiers of the war of 1812. — In view of the 
State of our finances, and especially in view of 



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Convention of the soldiers of the war of 1812. 



13! 
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the fact that the Soldiers of that war, are now 
aeed and rapidly dropping away, and in view 
of the preceden established by Congress in refer- 
ence to the Soldiers of the Revolutionary war, 
that ail offio.jrs and Soldiers of the war of 181*2 
now living, and the widows of such as are de- 
ceased should be provided for by a liberal an- 
nuity to be continued during their natural 
lives, and tliat such provisions should extend 
to and include both the Indian and African race 
for services either on sea or land, who enlisted or 
served in that war, and who joined with the 
white man in defending our rights and main- 
taining our independence. 

Resolved. — That we cordially invite the co- 
operation of tiie cfFicera and soldiers of the war 
of 1812 in all liie other States of the Union, that 
they be respectfully and earnestly requested to 
hold sinoilar cjuventions in their own States, to 
call iipon,their respectiveSjLegislature, to instruct 
their members in Congress to make just and 
ample provisions by grants of Land and annui- 
ties for the officers and Soldiers of 1812, and for 
the widows of such as are deceased and that 
without distin.Hion of race or color. 

Resolved. — That a State central committee 
be constituted, consisting of not less than thir- 
teen in number and whosedut}^ it shall be to 
take charge of the several matters embraced in 
these Resolutions and present tbem in a proper 
manner to the consideration of our own Legis- 
lature and Congress, and to correspond with our 
local committees and with the committees of oth 
er States in reference to the great and interes- 
ting objects which have called this convention 
and that said committee shall consist of — 

Maj. Gen. E. W. Benson of Fabi us. 

Col. H. Olds, Syracuse. 

Col. John Stevens, Elbridge. 

Gen. Jacob Young of Auburn. 

Col. Charles Hollister, Elisburgh Jefferson Co. 

Gen. Henry Storms, of New York, 

Gen. John S. VanRensselacr, of Albany, 

Capt. Harvey Baldwin, of Syracuse. 

Col. Josiah Uovej-, Buffalo.' 

Gen. Abner Woo'dworth, Penn Yan. 

Maj. S. S. Foreman, of Syracuse. 

Maj. Moses D. Burnett, Syracuse. 

Maj. Elias Benjamin, of De Ruyter. 

Resolved. — That inasmuch as most of the 
counties of the State are represented, local 
Comn^jttecs shall be appointed in each 
county whose duty it shall be to coriespond 
with the State Central Committee in furthering 
the objects of this convention and especially 
in looking up all the old Soldiers of 1812 in 
their respective Districts, and providing for the 
wants of such as are poor, until provision shall 
be made by the government. 

Resolved. — Tliat the thanks of this conven- 
tion are due to such members of our own Legis- 
lature and of Congress who have advocatef* our 
rights or expressed a sj-mpathy in our behalf 
and that in the selection of future candidates 
to office we will have an eye to our great and 
long neglected interest 

Resolved. — That the thanks of this conven- 



tion be presented to Gen. James W. Nye and 
Hon, Ilarvey Baldwin for their eloquent and 
able address** and t'lat copies the.eof be reques- 
ted for publication as part of the proceedings 
of the convention. 

Resolved. — That we tender our grateful ac- 
knowledgments to the_ gentlemen proprietors 
ot the Corinthian Hall, one of the b.^st in the 
City- or State, and which ww kindly tendered 
us by tliem without charge. 

That we also tender our thanks to the May- 
or and Common Council of the City of Syracuse 
and to the Military Corps who turned out to re- 
ceive us' and gallantly discharged that duty; and 
that we desire also to express our grateful ac- 
knowledgments to the several Railroad Com- 
panies for their liberality in passing over their 
roads without charge the Soldiers of 1812. 

Resolved — That our thanks be presented to 
the President and otter officers of this conven- 
tion for the able manner in which they have 
discharged their respective duties, and that our 
grateful acknowledgments are specially due to 
Maj. Gen. E. W.Benson and Col. H. Olds, for 
their great labor and zeal in awakening a pub- 
lie interest in our behalf and in getting up this 
convention. 

Resolved. — That the proceedings of the con- 
vention be signed by the President and Secreta- 
ry and published in all the papers in the United 
States, friendly to our cause and will publish 
the same without charge. 

Gen. Storms from the Committee on memo- 
rial, reported that the resolutions adopted had 
superseded the necessity of their preparing the 
memorial contemplated. Report accepted. 

TnE President, Hon. Harvey Baldwin, then 
delivered an .Address to which tlie Convention 
listened with deep attention and re.sponded with 
frequent manifestations of approval. It was 
exceedingly interesting and as an historical pa- 
per, valuable. It was practical and we doubt 
not will exert an iraportiint influence in fur- 
therance of the objects of the Convention. 



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THE ADDRESS 

of Hon. Harvey Baldwin, of Syracuse, to the 
Convention of Veterans, of 1812, at Corinthi- 
an Hall, June 21, 1854. 

Gentlemen Officers and Fellow 
Soldiers of the War of 1812 : 

Nearly half a 
century has rolled a^way since last we 
met upon the tented field, amid the 
clangor of war and din of battle, in de- 
fence of our Common Couctry. — 
This day we are permitted by the bles- 
sing of Alraight}' God, to rc-asscmble, 
greet our old companions in arms, 
and recount the events of that day, 
and to adopt such measures as the 
history of those events, and the well 






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14 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIEKS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



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being of ourselves, our fkmilies, and] we were engaged; and who from that I 
our country shall seem to require. \ day to the present time, with a few | 

In the discharge of these duties the ; exceptions, has not failed to treat us \ 
mind naturally recurs to the scenes of [either in our individual or collective j 
that war and to the causes which im- 1 capacity, with all the respect due to j 
pelled the American Congress to its ; a great and powerful nation ; and I 
declaration. j whom at this moment she is proud to g 

The prowess and valor of our fore- recogni2e as friends, and whose aid in J 
fathers had wrung from the Mother j the event of danger from other powers, | 
Country, an unwilling recognition of j she would first invoke. 



I 



j the independence of her transatlantic ! A like effect has by that war been I 

\ Colonies and from that day down to I produced upon all other civihzed na- | 

j the declaration of the war of 1812, j tions; and irom the declaration of the | 

j she regarded us as offending children, | Peace of 1815, to the present time, our : 

j who had been cast off because we | Glorious stripes and Stars have com- j 

? could not be controlled and yet were 1 manded respect and admiration in ev- ( 

too weak in our collective capacity j ery sea and in every quarter of the | 

to assume the importance and dignity j Globe, as Emblems of a great and j 

of an independent Nation ; and who j powerful nation, jealous of her rights I 

therefore might be treated with any j and ever ready, and able to main- : 

sortofcontumely and oppression, which j tain them. | 

the offended parent might in its caprice As a necessary result of this glori- 

or ano-er, think proper to impose; and | ous triumph, our comitry has since 

which resulted in a systematic and con- 1 moved on with unexampled prosperi- 

tinued course of oppression and j ty ; her borders vastly extended — her 

abuse, that could no longer be borne, [ population largely increased — ^her re- j 

and wfus only arrested by the declara- ' sources extensively developed — her | 

tion of that war, in which we were all | citizens by a judicious and liberal sys- j 

engaged, and in which some of you ! tem of education, greatly elevated in : 



! 



country, at this 
., now stands forth in 
&Tound and in bold relief) as one ol 



the scale of human existance and our | 

beloved 

ment. 



blessed mo- ! 
the fore- i 



i 



1 



bore so conspicuous a part 

Foremost among these causes, was 
the frequent insult offered to our flag 
and to our citizens in foreign ports, 

but especially the outrage upon our j the freest, happiest, most prosperous 
rights by the search of American Ves- j and powerful nations of the Earth. s 
sels, and the impressment into their | Such, fellow Citizens, are some of j 
own service, of American seamen. ; the achievements resulting from the; 

Taught by history, and the recollec- wai- of 1812, and in which you were j 
tion of the horrors of our revolution- patriotically and heroically engaged, | 
ary struggle, and regarding war as a i and such the results of devotion to j 
great evil, we first had recourse to { your country. j 

a remonstrance and negotiation : and i These are grateful reflections, and 
finding these unavailing, an appeal such as will ever flow from a discharge 
to arms was our only alternative. | of duty. — But while it is true that 

The history of ihe war which fol- , " merit carries with it its own re- 
lowed, and which commenced in 1812 I ward," it does not, therefore, follow 
and was closed by a treaty of peace ' that, in the case now under considera^ 
1815, will bear testimony to the tion there are no correlative obligations f 

I 

of 5 



in 



success of that appeal, and to its sub- 
duijig and humbling effect upon the 
proud and arrogant nation with whom 



resting upon the government. 

From the earliest organization 
governments to the present time, it has j 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



15 



been the habit of all nations, whether 
savaore or civilized, to reward in some 
suitable manner, those wbo had rjn- 
Jered important services to their coun- 
try. 

Our's has followed the high example. 
The soldier of the Kevolution, though 
paidoffin Continental worthless funds, 
and which to our eternal shame ard 
disgrace have never been redeemed, 
were rewarded bv large grants of rich 
and valuable land, some of which have 
descended to their children and now 
constitute a rich inheritance; while 
others, and by far the greater part, 
were sold by the poor Soldier, (whose 
necessities occasioned by the total 
worthlessness of his continental mon- 
ey, and which he had received as his 
monthly pay in an eight years' war,) 
constrained him to sell " for a mess of 
pottage ! " Let this be remembered, 
and let us 'pray God that although we 
cannot reach them in their graves, 
that justice may yet be done to their 
descendants. 

But honors were decreed, and grants 
of land were made, not only to the 
Soldiers of the Revolutionary war, but 
to those also of the war of 1812, who 
had served tor a certain period. But 
there is another and a large class who 
inhabited the borders of the country, 
and who were frequently called out 
in its defence, called out to repel inva- 
sions, and for whom no allowance has 
ever been made ; because no one peri- 
od of ser-sdce reached the limit estab- 
lished by the act making the grant. 
Of this, you have a right, and of this, 
wc do complain. 

In case of an invasion, which is 
always sudden and temporary, what is 
it that constitutes the defence of the 
invaded territory ? It is the prompt 
exhibition of force; it is readiness to 
repel ; and, in case of battle resulting 
from such invasion, what is the diffe- 
rence in risk of life or limb, whether 
such battle be fought by the Soldier of 
six months, or who has enlisted du- 



ring the war, or him who is summoned 
or has volunteered for the occasion ? 

There is a difference^ but that diffe- 
rence is in favor of the latter class; 
because he lights without the arms — 
without the equipments and without 
the skill and the science of the well- 
drilled, regular soldier; and if a dis- 
tinction be made either way, therefore, 
it should be made in his favor. And 
yet, under the existing laws of the 
country, he is entirely overlooked by 
his government; nay, with the danger 
passed, he is unceremoniously dismis- 
sed without reward. The injustice of 
this, is too palpable to require argu- 
ment. 

Be it our duty, then, fellow soldiers, 
while we hold ourselves at all times 
ready to defend the rights of the na- 
tion, to defend also our own rights; 
and if it be right to make these grants 
to the one class, let us see that the bor- 
der settler, who is therefore the most 
harassed and most exposed by war, 
that the minute man, who sleeps upon 
his arms and who is liable to be sum- 
moned at any moment, be not over- 
looked. You and I may not need this 
bounty ; still we should regard it as a 
grateful remembrance from our coun- 
try, and as such, should value it. But 
more than all, we object to partiality, 
we insist upon "fair play." As con- 
stituent members of this nation, we 
all have an interest in the public do- 
main, and while we do not claim its 
distribution lor these objects, we do 
insist, if that policy is to be adopted 
and pursued, it shaU be impartially 
done. So much we do and so much we 
will insist upon. 

Our government is rich in lands — 
more than fourteen hundred millions 
of acres ai"e at its disposal — it is libe- 
ral in its gifts to indi\dduals and to 
companies. Yast grants are continu- 
ally being made by Congress, and at 
its present session it proposes to give 
as a bounty to the actual settler, 160 
acres, although that settler may be a 



I 



16 



COX^'ENTIOX OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



\ 



foreigner, not a "week in the coiintr}'', 
provided he Las declai'ed liLs intention 
to become a citizen ; and yet, witli- 
holds -its bounty from native born 
Americans vrlio have always resided 
here, have cheerfully borne its bur- 
dens and repeatedly periled their lives 
in its defence! 

"We complain also that the law of 
1850 did not do justice to the soldier 
of 1812, who served for a less period 
than one year. 

In view of the extent of our public 
domain, the grant of forty acres of 
land, is a miserable pittance to the sol- 
dier who periled his life in defence of 
his country. 

The soldier of the late war with 
Mexico, which added so much to our 
pubhc domain and reflected so much 
glory upon our arms, received as a 
bounty 160 acres of land and $160 in 
cash , none of them for a long period 
of service ; some of them for a period 
exceedingly brief, and many of them 
who never saw the enemy's country, 
or even left their own homes, — while 
the soldier of 1812, after a lapse of -10 
years, is turned off with only 40 acres 
and no cash bount7. 

The soldiers of the Revolutionary 
wai", who received a bounty of 6-40 
acres, have been for many years on the 
Pension Eoll, with an allowance, if not 
liberal, sufficient to keep them from 
the Poor House — to keep them from 
starvation; while no such provision 
has ever been made, for the Soldiers 
of 1812 ; many of whom, have already 
died in abject poverty ; and still more 
have been and at this mom'cnt are sup- 
ported, by private or public charities. 
We have now some of them lodged 
iu the Poor House of our own county, 
and this too, while the treasury of the 
nation is full to overflowing, to an 
extent that leads to disgusting scram- 
bles among the St.ates for its distri- 
bution, or is squandered upon unwor- 
thy if not unconstitutional objects — 
and at this ."noment seeks an invcst- 



[ ment of no less sum than one hundred 
[ millions, in foreign territory. — the 
acquisition of which woidd in all prob- 
ability, involve us in a war that would 
cost us twice as much more. 

Of all of this we do complain as 
partial, illiberal^ unfair and unjust. — 
We complain of it, as an instance of 
neglect by the government of its citi- 
zens, which is without a parallel. — 
Even among thcrotten monarchies of 
the Old World, who, whatever else 
they may do, never forget the Ofiicers 
and Soldiers of theu* armies, or leave 
them in their old age to subsist as pub- 
He paupers, or perish by neglect. 

Oh, how did I blush for my country, 
while visiting the Hotel of Invalids in 
France, a few yeai"3 since, on seeing I 
the Veterans of their wars, well fed, I 
clothed, in magnificent quarters, loca- ' 
ted in one of the most pleasant places 
of the beautiful city of Paris ; while 
our own, neglected by their govern- 
ment, were perishing by the way side, 
or being sustained as public paupers, 
n the Alms Houses of our country ! 

With such examples before us, well 
may it be said, that Republics are in- 
deed ungrateful ! 

Fellow Soldiers, the remedy is in 
your own hands. When you" return 
to your homes, tell the story of your 
wrongs to 3-our cliildren and to your 
children's children. Unite with them . 
in telling it to the Congress, to the j 
government of the nation. Carri/ iti ' 
recollection with you to the Ballot Box- 
es, and justice will no longer be with- 
held. 

But, fellow Soldiers, while we thus 
remember our own wrongs and resolve _ 
to redress our own grievances, let us i 
not be unmindful of 

THE POOR INDL\X, 

who stood at our side in times of peril, 
and battled with us in defence of our . 
rights, and who by invitation, take I 
part Avith us, in tlie proceedings of 
this day. 



■■■■■■■•■ 



CONVENTIOX OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE \TAR OF 1812. 



17 



Tf \V3 liave claims, their's are an hun- 
ilred fold stronger. It' we have cause 
.)(* coujiluint, they have a th.iusaud to 
oar one. In the lirst phi(x\ they are 
the aboriginios of the country — the 
ii.itural [jords of its soil, holding their 
Patents — their title Deeds, from the 
Groat Jehovah. 

In many instances we have wrested 
that country from them by ctiicauery, 
fraud, force and violence. Their vast 
huuiino: grounds of interminable ex- 
teuL and over which they roamed in 
the nrmiiiive simplicity and noble dai- 
ing of their nature, have been circum- 
scribed, to a few thousand acres, and 
from Lords of the soil, they have been 
reduced to a state of miserable pupil- 
age; while the introduction of ^^ Fire 
/oatur'^ lias made fearful inroads into 
their numbers, and opened an easy- 
way for all the vices of the white man. 
Xo obligation whatever therefore, 
rests upon them, to defend a country 
thus wrongfully and violently torn 
from them, nor a people, by whom 
thsy hive been so basely and rudely 
treated — and yet. when in course of 
the war of 1812 Gieat Britain thought 
proper to employ her Savage allies, 
and our governmenc appealed to th 
lied men of our country for protection 
from the Tomahawk and Scalping 
Knife of the Canadian Indians, most 
readily did they respond to that call 
and rush to the rescue — and I rejoice 
to say, that none mf>re readily and ef- 
ficieutly, than did our brethren from 
the londaga tribe. Although a 
stripling al the time, well do I remem- 
ber the stifling scenes of that day. — 
That great and natural orator, whose 
efforts would compare favorably with 
the most eloquent men of either an- 
cient or modern times, the immortal 
Red Jacket, was the first to move un- 
der that call — coming down from 
the western bounds of the State where 
he resided, accomj)anied by a delega- 
tion from his own tribe, he passed 
through the dilferent tribes in the 



west, summoning them to arms and re- 
quiring each to turn out its quota of 
warriors; and in this way he arrived at 
Onondaga Valley. Resting his men 
in a green fiield, at thejunction ot the 
old turnpike and the road leading to 
the Onondaga Castle, he from this point 
sent swift footed messengers, to the 
Ouondagas to apprise them of liis ap- 
proach and the object of his visit. 

In a short lime they returned, ac- 
companied by a strong delegation 
from the braves of that tribe. It was 
my good fortune to be seated with Red 
Jacket and his party on the green 
sward at the moment of their arrival, 
and never shall I forget the scene 
which followed. Red Jacket arose, 
and after a hasty salutation, resting 
himself against the rail fence that sur- 
rounded tl)e field, with his hands lock- 
ed, his legs crossed in easy attitude — 
his head bowed down, in a deep sep- 
ulchral tone of voice, be commenced 
addressing them; — soon however, he 
became more animated — his hands 
unclasped — his head raised — his voice 
louder and his keen eye flashing fire, 
he stood forth erect in his manly form, 
in all the lofty wildness and grandeur 
so peculiar to the Indian character, 
and which was ever so beautifully illus- 
trated in that wonderful chief. 

Deeply excited by his subject, his 
gesticulation became frequent, ani- 
mated and violent — while his voice, 
elevated to a still higher pitch, rang in 
trumpet tones, and aroused the deep- 
est feeling of his savage auditors, as 
was evident from their frequent and 
hasty ejaculatory responses. Its ef- 
fect was indeed electrifying, even up- 
on those who did not undarsatnd the 
language, and the result was, at the 
conclusion of his appeal, the question 
being taken whether the Ononda;jas 
would furnish their quota of men for the 
service, it was carried by acclamation, 
and the next day that quota were on 
their march to the Nineara frontier. 

I well remember their wild and 



^— 



18 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIEKS OF THE WAR OF lbl2. 



warlike appearance, as tliey passed 'justice to tliem, has stamped u- on it. 
through the" Village, and how the citi- ', If nations are to be brought into 
zj\is and school bovs cheered them on ; judgnienL ior national sins, — if a just 
iheir way. God presides over the conduct and af- 

The storm of war was then hover- fairs of men, awful, most awful, is the 
ing over that frontier, and a few days lecount which we are y^t to lender 
brought us an account of the battle of | for wrongs and outrn'^e-! comtnitted 
Qu enston, and of tlie feats of despa- 1 on the Indian and Africa i race — and 
rate courage and noble daring, per ! well may we tremble, in view of that 
formed by the Onondaga Braves. ' jiunishinent which awaits us, at the 

A few days more brought home the; hand of a just and olfended <iod — and 
\vounded of that party. 1 shall never : depend upon it, that sooner or later, 
forget their changed and sorrowful ap- j and I fear at no distant day, that pun- 
pearance, as they were borne in litters ishment will come. 



\ 



\ 



nn the shoulders of their brave com 
panions to their quiet forest home 



Uaving thus taken a general view : 
of the main ^ubjel.•t which h;is called us | 
nor shall 1 forget, the awful havoc | together, let vs for a moment, indulge ' 
which was made by a more subtile foe, } in a few passing reflections ujion the 
(the small pox) Avhich was contracted I blessings which surround us. and upon 



in Canada, and brought back by the 
war part}', on its return. The disease 
was a new one, and before the whites 
liad heard of its existence, it had near- 
ly decimated their number. 

It is under such circumstances that 
the cpiestion is presented, whether 
these men, many of Avhom I recognize 
uere to dav, then young and vitrorous, 
tint now in the sear and yellow leaf — 
these Sons of the forest — these ociginal 
Lords of the soil — whom we have dis 
poilcd of their inheritance and whom 



the evils which have gradually and 
subtilely stolen into, and are corru])ting 
and as a canker worm eating into and 
destroying our social and political svs- 
tems, in order that we may api)ly the 
corrective, and save those systems 
from further pollution and danger 
as we have, and will still do, our coun- 
try from foreign aggression. 

But of these, having already occu- 
f)ied so much of your time, we can on- 
ly take a glancing view. 

Of our bl( ssings — they have been by 



notwithstanding our abuse of them i an all Merciiul Uod, thnnvii broad-cu^t 
have freely poured out their blood and ' upon our common country 



laid down their lives in our defence, 
and in our behalf — whether these 
men shall not share alike with us in 
the bounty which we claim. 

Fellow Soldiers, I know too well 
your sense of justice — I understand 



"When we take a view ol' that country, 
of its great extent reaching almost from 
the frigid to the ionid zone and exten- 
ding east and west Irom the Atlantic 
to the Pacific Ocoans, embracing al- 
most every description of climate and 






i 






too well, your hearts, to doubt for a { yielding almost every variety of pro- 
moment your reply, that reply will be [ duction known to the inhabitable gh'be, 
an unanimous, hearty, nay vehtmmt the fertility oi its soil — the energy and 



enter|irise of our rai>idly increasing 
population, and above all, the charac- 
ter of our free <:rovernmcnt and its lib- 



nffinnative. 

Give back to the Red Man a few 
acres of his own land, which have been 
by fraud and force taken from him, j eral and liberalizing institutions, witli 
w'lll be your reply —and would to God I what gratitude and adoration should 
that by so doing, we c< uld wipe out , we lift our eyes lo our Iloavenly Fath- 
from the otherw.se f;iir Escutcheon of j er, for so many, and such distingu'.sh- 
our country the foul stain which our in- ed blessings j and with what renewed 



convp:ntion of the soldiers of the wak of 1812. 



19 



i 



vows should we swear, updn the altar 
oi' our country, thut with His assis- 
tance, ihi-y s/ia I be vrvscrV' d — and so 
I fur us we are concerned, follow Soidiei's, 
I whether our couiUij shall or shall not 
- do us justice, let us so sweai! But 
we are beset by evils which endauger 
our social and jiohlical systems. 

Pi'oiniui nt anion^ theibrnicr, is the 
irreligion, the extravagance, the wick- 
ed iie>s ol' the times. 

Bv irreli'jrion, T do not mean the 
neglcel (;!' any particular creed, (ol 
which we have quite too many) but a 
neglect oi all creeds, a ibrgellulness 
and neglect oi llim to whom we are 
indebted lor every enjoyment and ev- 
ery blessing, which have been show- 
, ered down upon us, in such wonderful 
I profusion. 

In our modes of living, we are ex- 
travagant beyond bounds and bey i^d 
all past experience. — Our individual 
wealth constitutes, collectively, the 
wealth of the nation, and if we indi- 
vidually therefore squander our wealth 
we impoverish the nation; to say noth- 
ing of its vitiating and demoralizing 
tendency, we are called upon as patri- 
ots, as lovers of our country, to see to 
this, and to aj.iply the pruning hand. 
We are intempei-ate in all things — in- 
temperate in our aspirations — in oui- 
diet — in our drink and in all our en- 
joyments — and these be it remembered 
m our collective capacity, while they 
injure us individually, reflect them- 
selves upon, and go to make uj) 
the character of the nation — these as 
}'atriots therefore — af.well wishers if 
society, we are bound to the extent 
of onr power to correct. 

I have said our political sj'stem is 
in danger — we have not time to enu- 
merate them all — but prominent 
among them is, the corruption of the 
elec'ive franchixe^ demagogueism ami 
political dishonesty. Our pi'imarv as- 
semblies for nominating our public 
men and officers, are corrupted bv un- 
principled politicians and aspirants to 



office. 

In theory, the people select their 
l^ublic f>ervaiits, and votefor only such 
men as tliey piefci". And yet how of- 
ti'ii it hajipeiis, that tlie conventions 
lor making nominations, are packed 
by designing unprinciijled aspirants, 
whose names through that agency aie 
presented lor the suffrages of the 
electors, instead of others whom, if left 
to their own choice, they would prefer; 
and the result is, the election of bad 
and uiii)rincipled men to office, who 
possess neither talent nor integrity and | 
who when thus elevated wield their 
ofhcial power for the j'romotion of 
their own interest, instead of the pub- 
lic g(jod. This, which is followed up 
with the free use of money, at the 
polls, is a great and crying evil, which 
has brought upon us most of our dif- 
ficulties, and which if not arresttd, 
will ultimately sap the very founda- 
tion of the elective franchise, upon 
which is based our whole political fab- 
ric. 

'J'his great and growing evil, may 
be corrected, by attention to yonr pri- 
mary meetings — by self nominations 
or by calling out such candidates as 
the peojde may prefer, and sustaining 
them at the ]»olls. The remedy, in a j 
word, is in your own hands, and the | 
highest consideratiuns of duty and j 
patriotism require you to apply it. — | 
Kschewing political distinctions win. -h 
are not based upon principle, in the 
selection of our candidat(^s, let us here- 
after, kw-w notJiiiig bu* the ehvatvm </ 
uur best men, aitd the yood oj our cuuh- 
try. 

In conclusion — in view of the great 
interests committed to our hands, as 
citizens and as Soldiers, let us watch 
with a jealous eye over every intcjcst 
of our country, both dom'estic and for- 
eign. Let us endeavor to elevate, im- 
prove and benefit our race, and while 
we cultivate the principles of peace 
and good will towards men, let us be j 
readv at all times in case of domestic 



•^Mmmmm^tmmmmmi^mmmm^mm^ 



■■■■■■■Ji 



20 



CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. 



faction or foreign aggres.^ion, to main- 
tain the laws, institutions and rights ol 
our country, peaceably if we can, 
forciljly if we must. Eemembering 
tiiat wliile we regard war as a great 
fvil, that there are greater evils still 
than it; and that while we will culti- 
vate the principles of peace, we will 
ever hold ourselves ready to take up 
arms and rush to battle, in defence of 
either the honor or liberty of our 
beloved country. And let us trans- 
mit unimpaired to posterity, the rich 
inheritance which our Fathers purchas- 
ed with their blood, and committed to 
our hands for safe keeping; that 
when our time of service here below 
shall be finished, we may claim the 
rich promised bounty, and the bene- 
diction of our Ueavenly Father. — 
" Well done thou good and faithful 
servant, enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord," where, being enlisted in His 
service and enrolled under His Ban- 
ner, and joining the Ranks of the 
countless Uo.st of spirits of the just 
made perfect, who have gone before 
us, we may spend, far otf in the 
spirit Land, a never ending and bliss- 
ful eternity, in celebrating the praises 
and in adoration of Ilim who sitteth 
u})on the Throne, high in tlie Heavens, 
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 
forever and ever. And may God Al- 
mighty grant, that such may be the 
fate of our beloved Country, and such 
our own futui'e and hajipy desstiny. 






The IndifiTiB were then invited to select one j 
of their niimlier to addror's the C"nvc'iinon, ^ , 
Mr Hknkt Jordan, nn fndiaii of the Oiifid . | 
irihe made some rema k- ii|>o[i the n> slt^ft with 
which the whiten and ihe govei-nment h»ve 
treated their services. 

Three clieois were 'hen eiven for Ihelndions. 
By request the In.lmnB weiejratliered togeth- 
er, and the shrill War Wh.op thrco tiiiies giv^n 
and re-ponded to l>y them, in tiuj Indian style. 
Tliree cheers were then k. '^ •?!" '" F' turn. 
It having been suggested U> ili»' t'onvenlion, 
by tne rRK>ii>ENT. that as Gt-neml Bk.nson and 
Col Oi.r>«. iiRil incurred expens h hmi tin Mni I" 
^*veial tiuiidred dnilur^ in niakinu nrra- cetnenl- 
for the "oiiVMition. a eoll. ction suould be lak'-f 
o assist in defraying the same. 



The sum of *:-i9 55 was contriuuied by th< s- 
pre*! Dt, for t bii |iiit'|> c*-. 

(This fact illus rai'S vh*» corrpara^ive poverty 
of ih'ise who n-'W ni-i-f-a' to tip j><«iiie ot Oifi 
Cftintry. ;or » proper aokuowledgiuent, of iheir 
s-Tvi es ) 

Gen. Van Rensselaer, th»n, on Hehalf of Oen. 
Ben-"N, r-turi f^ t' ai ks toth m- ndiers present 
and bad.- hiI md aff ct oiiai« iarew»-"!. 

Major PfCK ofie ed the tciUdwing Resolutior, 
whicii was ui'ftnimously adopted. 

Resolved — Thnt thin Convei tion while ma- 
k'ni; provision f.jr the su'vivi^g vet rar s, ar*- net 
nnmindfid of tiie gillant dend, who have ta'lr' 
on F ■r'-iyn Soil ; do tn>-r>'f<) e earne-tly api ^a" 
to CoiiprcB, t" t»kr- immediate etefs t'ot Sfcu- 
liog suitable burial p'aees in foreign countrv8. 

At "lie close of the proceeding!* i-f the Con- 
vei. tion the iiiteresling ceremony of initih inn 
Gen. E. W^ Be eon ino the Broiherhocd of th.- 
Six N-itio" 9 was prrformrjd. A founcil of the 
reprt-sentatives of the S x Nnlions was heU' in 
the back purt of ttie H ill, and a new name 
for G. nei al Benson atjree 1 upon. Tli«- ceremony 
oei-up'ed 1 Illy a few niiiii.tes, an'i th'- lenmiks 
made by tile j-rineip d Chiet. « ere inter ^uete'l 
to --h «.'. tivenfion by nn edm-nted I- ilian. — 
They ciinsiste'l of a himple s'attineni that'h- 
Tf present Hi ivfs of Six Nations there assembl-d 
were w rrii-rs in 1812, nnd as Gen Benson had 
t;een a brave and luefey niin ihey wou'd ieeeiv»- 
liiin as a br' ther warrior. The ceremony was 
I'oricii.'ded by mtinhii j: back and c h on tbe 
jdrt'forin, sintjint: a ^ort o' 1 aif spoken diri;e, 
which was respond' d tobyeevfral warr o-s in 
the bH< k part of th« room, and at the conciu- 
ion, all spoWe the new name of the initi«te<1 
brother in conc-rt. As nenr &" we couid uf- 
■ lersinnd. the n.ime is '•(.)N-WEN-.TA-K WE- 
G'.)N"-«iid its iiiterpr. tation IS " MVc/f Ho »/(/." 

Thus ende I the most inier.sti'g Convemi' n 
ever hell! in the "'City of t'onvemionb," a- d it 
many icpeois it waa such a meeii;ig as the 
citizens will n- ver see airatn. 

Coiiven'ion a ijonrned -line die, 

S0I.DIEI4S' BOUNTY LAND AGENCY 
Oen. EL W. Hknson and Col. II Uuns. 
Of the I itv of Svrncuoe. offer their services to 
the ^oldi r* oi the Wer of 812— '!.'»; th- 
I'lorida War. Mexican and Indian Wiirs fri'm 
1790 down, — nn i to ftU < laimants for Bount\ 
Liin<<A; also Widows snd Minor Heirs, of de- 
cetsed Soldiers eiititlt»d th-ret". in assisting 

hem in obiaininij their Land Scrip either b.v 
iheir Counsel or advic, or their serv ces, as 
Aiient-' and At;oinp>'s in their behalf, to pro- 
cure the siim« for 'hem; or any c aim th-y may 
Ijftve on the Si»te of New YorK, for back pay, 
or lay for C'o'hing worn out or destroy d in 
ihe Jiervice; a'so to adju'^t all Oliiims • f Ii di.ui 
Allies of the Six Nation^ who rendered >ervices 
in any t f the Wais nb ve m-ntimed. 

Th y '""^ 1'*" f' ""'1 «f' "*"*''■ "♦l'"'^ No 1 
Town«ei.d Block. Water St., or No 24 WyoiniiiL- 
St., or Address, i'osl.ige paid, ihrough ihe Tos' 

»»tH<e. 



Il)e be,st i)jiilij $i,per ! 



THE SIRACUSS DML! BEPDBLICAN 

E. HroaLAND, Editor & Proprietor. 

(OFFICE, ST Alt BUILDINGS, SALINAST.) 
IS PI7BLI-HED EVERY MORNING &. AFTERNOON. 

Two Editions Daily, 

Contaioiap ftll tlie rcl'')<rsi(>liic News and l/ocal ;in«l neiuTal Iiit-en''."'r''i? re<>eivcMl up 

to :i i>'cl<>i:k i'. ^l. for the AftcrniKi!! J-.'iition. aii<l up t<7 ■> oVI<'CiC 

.V. .^L for kho Mornin'^ Edition. 

Ih.9 Editions are kept Separate. 

All the y.>-.vs r)f ili,i jirfiN lolls isMUf v^ill K« jiul)li.-<'t.>il in tlie ^!^rllill^ or Aft^Ti.cMUs 
Edition, 



J^f Xo fiiforts lire .«pnrtvl t inwards nMidoiinfj the UKPTTBLICAN^ % ^o*vH Far<ify 
PftjuT, and li reliable News M<-diuiit. Tuk latest XkW8 wiu. bif j^uno in ire (.'<»i.- 

PJitlior Edition will be sorvod Ui Snb>cril>ei-3 in aiiv part of tlie City at }<ioenti>» 
"VN'oek, piwahlo to the i.'ixrrior, -n- f 1 Oo j>i'r «,iu:irt<'r. pjivabl'' in Advance. J-!_\ Mail, 
$.'5 a 3<!iH — ill Ailvaii'.. 



, 



.4. .4.1. „A4 WW ,A^ .iM. AJL. AA .A, 






Is piil)!isl)<-d DVery Saturday, and contains ail the News and Misotdlany ""f llx-' r>nily 
lit'puMican fijr the \v»i<jk. Sorvc-d to SiiVKk-ribcrs in the Citj at #1 50, or by Mail al 
^1 — pa'ahU- ill .\d.'anp«i. 






'\1\« TlKl'l'IiLR'AN offoi*«i ^r.ator advantavjos thiia any paper in tho City. Iti 
daily I'irculalion is the i..vr.fU>T. mid tlie tvo « lition* atTonl tlie earliest opportunitits 
for .\dvi.TliH(M-s to uoniiiiU'iiiMte Willi the pii)»lic. 



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of tho l;i;rfil>i,U'A\ and .<rAi;. is tli.> lari^ist and niost coinpioto in t]i<' (.'ify. — 
\][ .lob Work oonin-tiii-.'d iiiNlHiilly vliun rcquin-.l, and completed without delay. 
Tamil* low — Ca.^» on de.liwrv. 



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